Haunted Happenings

For Salem Haunted Happenings, the carnival returns to Derby Street

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By Shelley A. Sackett, correspondent

Haunted Happenings, the annual month-long festival that crowns Salem the world capital of all things Halloween, will kick off its third weekend with the beloved Fiesta Shows Carnival on Derby Street. Famed for having the most thrilling Midway, Fiesta Shows owns and operates over 100 amusement rides ranging in excitement from the most popular Kiddie rides to the ultimate thrill seekers.

The Carnival runs from 1:00 p.m. (12 noon on Sunday) until 10:00 p.m. on weekends and from 3:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. on weekdays from Friday, October 14 through Monday, October 31.

“There is something special happening every weekend,” said Kate Fox, Executive Director of Destination Salem, the city’s Office of Tourism & Cultural Affairs. Salem Haunted Happenings typically draws over 250,000 visitors to Salem during October.

In addition to the outdoor fun and frolic of the Carnival, there are plenty of opportunities for lovers of theater, film, séances, tours and much more.

CinemaSalem at Museum Place Mall screens the terrific “The History of Halloween”, a short film shot in 3D that will entertain any age, and “The True 1692”, a 3D film that tells the story of the Salem witchcraft hysteria of 1692. (Visit CinemaSalem.com for the full schedule).

For a more up close and personal 1692 experience, History Alive, Inc. presents the 25th season of “Cry Innocent: The People vs. Bridget Bishop” at Old Town Hall at 32 Derby Square. The live, interactive event allows participants to play the part of the Puritan jury, hearing testimony, cross examining witnesses and deciding the outcome of the famous witchcraft trial. (Visit CryInnocentSalem.com for more information).

If dinner and theater is your treat of choice, then head to the Hawthorne Hotel on Friday, October 14 or Finz on Saturday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m. for “Ghostbusted!”, the family friendly whodunit where the actors perform tableside and diners help solve the mystery while enjoying a buffet dinner. (For more information and to make reservations, go to HauntedDinnerTheater.com ).

If magic is more your cup of tea, then head to St. Peter’s Church at 24 St. Peter Street for the Salem Haunted Magic Show, a live 75-minute show filled with a unique blend of inconceivable stunts, bizarre demonstrations, dark comedy and — of course — audience participation. (Visit TheSalemMagicShow.com for more information).

If your Halloween experience isn’t complete without a séance (or two), then Festival of the Dead’s authentic nightly séances at The Omen at 184 Essex Street should fit the bill. For a complete listing of all events, including the Official Witches’ Ball and the Annual Psychic Fair and Witches’ Expo, visit festivalofthedead.com.

New to Haunted Happenings this year, The Salem Waterfront Hotel at 225 Derby Street will host Chowderfest, a Breast Cancer Benefit, on Saturday, October 15 from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. For a $10 “spoon fee”, visitors can sample chowder from restaurants in the North Shore and vote for the Best Chowder. All proceeds will be donated to NSMC/MassGeneral/NS Cancer Services.

Trolley tours and harbor boat cruises let revelers enjoy more of Salem by land and by sea. For landlubbers, Salem Trolley offers two options: a one-hour narrated historical tours, and “Tales & Tombstones” a special evening tour that visits scenes of Salem’s haunted past and forgotten secrets. (For reservations, visit SalemTrolley.com ). Gallows Hill’s “Ghosts & Legends Trolley” is a sinister and comical guided look at Salem’s history. (For more information, visit GallowsHillSalem.com )

Mahi Mahi Cruises has three tours to choose from: a “Haunted Happenings” tour, complete with face painting and Tarot card readings; a 90-minute lighthouse and foliage cruise; and a 21+ “Halloween Boo!s Cruise” with DJ, costumes, prizes and — of course — booze. For more details, visit MahiCruises.com.

If it seems like an impossible task to keep all the schedules and events straight, you’re in luck. Destination Salem has published “The Guide to Salem Haunted Happenings”, the zombie-themed essential handbook for getting the most out of Haunted Happenings. It includes calendars, articles, Haunted Happenings “Dos and Don’ts” and information about Salem’s tours, attractions, entertainment, parking and transportation. The guide is available at the National Park Service Salem Visitors Center at 2 New Liberty St. or at hauntedhappenings.org/.

Here come Haunted Happenings

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Salem Haunted Happenings, the annual month-long festival of all things Halloween, typically draws over 250,000 visitors to Salem during October. The 2016 schedule has something for everyone, from artsy street fairs to an a cappella competition to free family Saturday night films.

“Salem’s Haunted Happenings festival is a fun and unique celebration of fall and Halloween. Our city always has a lot going on, but in October Salem takes the fun-filled festivities to even greater heights,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll. “From our historic waterfront, to our remarkable museums and cultural attractions, to our diverse and delicious restaurants, Salem is a vibrant city with much to deliver year-round, of course.”

 

Bring in the food trucks

There is plenty this weekend to entertain and titillate all ages of revelers, as Salem Haunted Happenings kicks off its 36th year with the city’s first Food Truck Festival on Saturday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Salem Common. More than 25 food trucks from across New England will serve up food, fun and live music.

“We’re excited about this addition,” said Kate Fox, executive director of Destination Salem, the city’s Office of Tourism & Cultural Affairs. “There has been a consistent desire over recent years for food trucks in Salem, a hard thing for us to balance with our robust restaurant scene.”

The City of Salem partnered with New England Open Markets to bring treats ranging from grilled cheese to poutine, from whoopee pies to cookies. Founded by Chis Masci in 2003, New England Open Markets operates Salem Open Market and Salem Holiday Market, and specializes in outdoor markets that feature family fun for all ages.

Little Pumpkin Duathlon

Also on Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the second annual Little Pumpkin Duathlon at Salem Willows invites children 11 years and under to compete in a unique Run/Bike/Run in historic Salem. This event will include a kids fun zone, pumpkin painting, and relay races. To register and for more information, visit bnseventmanagement.com .

Here come the zombies

 

The Salem Zombiewalk is a not-to-be-missed event as dozens of zombies shuffle their way through Salem on Saturday, Oct. 1. Prior to the Zombiewalk, participants gather at Collins Cove Park on East Collins Street for some field day activities, last-minute costume tweaks and alterations, and to indulge in mutual admiration, zombie-style. Pets are welcome, so long as they are crowd friendly and well behaved. Zombie Kickball begins at 3:30 p.m. and the Zombie Walk starts at 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact darqsalem@aol.com or visit salemzombiewalk.com .

Live music on the Mall

The Purgatorium Music Festival, presented by BlacKat Productions, kicks off the popular live music series for the Salem Halloween Fountain Stage on Museum Place Mall on Saturday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The performance lineup features live music from some of the region’s best solo acts and bands. For the complete schedule throughout October, visitsalemhalloweenmusic.wordpress.com.

Especially for pets

Salem Main Streets has partnered with Salem Pet Photo, the New England Dog Biscuit Company, Creative Salem, It’s Reigning Cats-n-Dogs, and a number of other community partners to present another first this year, the Howl-o-ween Parade, on Sunday, Oct. 2 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Held on Artists’ Row, the event will include a pet photo booth, some games, an area with information about local rescues and pet-focused downtown businesses, and most importantly, a parade and costume contest with prizes.

This is a free event, though attendees wishing to participate in the parade will be asked to register at the event to make note of their pet’s name for judging and verify that they are up to date on all required vaccinations. Pets of all species are welcome, but should be well behaved and comfortable at a busy event where there are likely to be many dogs. Visit salemmainstreets.org/howl-o-ween/ for more details.

Grand Parade Oct. 6

 

Although Salem will definitely feel like Halloween Central starting Oct. 1, Haunted Happenings 2016 officially starts on Thursday, Oct. 6 with the Salem Chamber of Commerce Haunted Happenings Grand Parade.

“The Grand Parade is always a favorite, featuring the creative enthusiasm of hundreds and hundreds of Salem students, and many other revelers. It’s a fun celebration early in the month, before the crowds really begin to show up, that definitely feels like a special event for locals,” said Driscoll.

This year’s time-honored event will feature the theme “100 Years of Parks and Play,” celebrating the National Park Centennial. Grand Marshall Paul DePrey, Superintendent of the Salem Maritime and Saugus National Historic Sites, will lead the parade.

Full of color, pageantry, music and the enthusiasm of thousands of Salem’s students, the parade will start at Shetland properties on Congress Street and finish in the Salem Common, where Salem’s favorite DJ Doug will entertain the crowd. For more information, including a detailed route, visitsalem-chamber.org/haunted-happenings-grand-parade.

Haunted Happenings guide

Destination Salem has published “The Guide to Salem Haunted Happenings,” the zombie-themed essential handbook for getting the most out of Haunted Happenings. It includes calendars, articles, Haunted Happenings “Dos and Don’ts” and information about Salem’s tours, attractions, entertainment, parking and transportation. The guide is available at the National Park Service Salem Visitors Center at 2 New Liberty St. or at hauntedhappenings.org/.